Future’s bright for budding scientists
Workers can take their own path into this field
THINK outside the box this National Science Week and consider a career in the field because there are so many options available to jobseekers.
About 11,600 new roles are forecast to be created for natural and physical science professionals between 2017 and 2022, Federal Government projections show. It represents a 10.1 per cent increase in the five-year period.
While environmental scientists are set to dominate the job growth with about 5700 new roles, medical laboratory scientists are also forecast to increase by 1200 roles – more than barristers and media professionals combined.
Also forecast to be needed are an extra 1100 veterinarians, 1100 chemists, food and wine scientists, 400 science technicians such as chemistry technicians and hydrographers, and 300 life scientists such as biologists and biotechnologists.
Professor Vanessa Hayes, head of the Human Comparative and Prostate Cancer Genomics lab at Garvan Institute of Medical Research, says it is important for scientists to pursue topics they are passionate about. She says they should also “not be afraid to think outside of the box”.
Hayes studied her Bachelor of Science overseas and did extra courses to become a qualified fish farmer, despite not being interested in fishing.
“It taught me to be analytical (and) I learnt about assessing and being observant – it had nothing to do with the fish,” she says.
“Everything in life teaches you something.”
Hayes then completed her PhD in four years rather than the three she required, which resulted in 11 journal publications. “It was worth spending an extra year because most people don’t get (that),” she says. “Every scientist should work to be a world leader on a particular topic, so you have got to find your niche.”
Government data reveals 93 per cent of medical laboratory scientists have been to university and almost two in five hold a postgraduate qualification.
However, workers can begin their career as a laboratory technician by studying a vocational qualification such as an Advanced Diploma of Laboratory Operations.